Fun facts about New Year’s Day

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The earliest known New Year celebrations were recorded in Mesopotamia and date back to 2000BCE.

January is named after Janus, the god with two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

The early Romans used March 1 as New Year’s Day. Other cultures used the autumn equinox or the winter solstice to mark the new year.

In 1582, the Gregorian calendar, which marks Jan 1 as the new year, was adopted by the Roman Catholic Church.

New Year is the time when many people traditionally make resolutions to break bad habits or start good ones.

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Ancient Persians gave gifts of eggs on New Year’s Day, which symbolised productiveness.

Most New Year traditions are believed to ensure good luck for the coming year. In many parts of the United States, the people observe the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for good luck.

Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Auld Lang Syne was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. He may have based it on a folk song.

The words “auld lang syne” mean “times gone by”.

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Source: edition.cnn.com/2013/09/ 12/world/new-years-fast-facts.